Vishakapatnam District Profile

Vishakapatnam, the boundaries of this district are Bay of Bengal in the East, East Godavari district in the South, Orissa state in the West and North directions.

Forest occupies 42% of the district area. Forest yields quality Timber and Bamboo useful in Paper Industry. State Forest Department Planted Cashew nut trees and Eucalyptus trees throughout the district. Coffee Estates are picking up their produce each year of progress. Titanium's ores, Magnalyte and Bauxite ores, quality Clays, Mica, and Graphite are the minerals found in this soil. Vishakapatnam so often called as the Metropolitan City of Andhra Pradesh has developed a lot since last decade. Major Industries are setup in the district especially in the Head quarters because of the Seaport.

India's First Shipping Yard - Hindustan Shipyard, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant the one producing quality steel are the major industries found. Vishakapatnam Port - Which is called as the Natural Harbor Because of the Natural formation of the mountain peaks of the shape of Dolphin Nose emerging from the sea, making this Port an unique one. Vishakapatnam is also called as Waltair or Vizag.

Polavaram Project on the River Godavari is the Irrigation source to these lands. Vishakapatnam Thermal Power project is the Power source to the State as well as to the neighboring states. Upper Seleru Hydro Power Project Producing electricity at a Less Expensive rates is another feather in the Cap to this Industrious district. Electricity needs of the district are fulfilled by Hydro Power project on Machkand River. Andhra University's Head Quarters at Vishakapatnam is a very old university.

The city is named after the god of valour, Visakha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is also the ruler of the planet Mars and the god of war. The antiquity of the region is evident in its mention in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The former tells of the forests through which Rama travelled in search of his abducted wife, and where he met his devotee, Shabari, who directed him to the mountains where Hanuman lived. Rama also met Jambavan, a bear man, who helped him in his battle with Ravana. It was here, too, that Bheema defeated the demon Bakasura - the Pandava's huge stone club can be seen in the village of Uppalam, 40 km away.

This region, formerly part of the great Kalinga empire that stretched up to the river Godavari, has also been mentioned in Hindu and Buddhist texts from the 5th and 6th centuries BCE, as well as by Sanskrit grammarians, Panini and Katyayana in the 4th century BCE. This city was ruled by several dynasties: the Kalingas during the 7th century, the Chankyas during the 8th century, and later the Rajahmundry Reddy kings, the Cholas, the Qutb Shahis of Golconda, the Mughal Empire, and the Nizams of Hyderabad.

Local legend has it that an Andhra king (9-11th century), on his way to Benares, rested there. So enchanted was he with the sheer beauty of the place that he ordered a temple to be built in honor of his family deity, Visakha. Archaeological sources, however, reveal that the temple was possibly built between the 11th and 12th centuries by the Chola king, Kulottunga. A shipping merchant, Sankarayya Chetty, built one of the mandapams, or pillared halls of the temple. Though it no longer exists - it may have been washed away about 100 years ago by a cyclonic storm - elderly residents of Vizag talk of visits to the ancient shrine by their grandparents.

In the 18th century, Visakhapatnam was part of the Northern Circars, a region of Coastal Andhra that came first under French control, and was later captured by the British. Visakhapatnam became a district in the Madras Presidency of British India. After India's independence this was the biggest district in the country, and was subsequently divided into the three districts of Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram and Visakhapatnam.

Beaches: Vishakapatnam's beaches are lovely and serene, with vast stretches of golden sand. The waters are ideal for swimming and other water sports.

Dolphin's Nose: This massive rock, 357 m high, is shaped like a Dolphin's nose. The rock jutts out in to the sea, forming a headland on which is the lighthouse. This powerful lighthouse has a beam that can be seen 65 km out at sea.

Harbour: The picturesque Vishakapatnam harbour is one of the best natural harbours in the world. A temple, mosque and church are located on hils overlooking it. The Hindustan shipyard, 23 hectares in extent is situated to the southwest of the harbour.

Lawson's Bay: North of Vishakapatnam in this pretty cove, ideal for swimming. The Ramakrishna Mission beach and Rishikonda beach also attracts the swimmer.

Araku Valley (115 km): This picturesque Araku Valley, at an altitude of 975 metres in the Ananthagiri hills,is a fascinating experience out of the ordinary. The journey to Araku Vally is a fascinating experience out of the ordinary. The journey to Araku hills, is by a well-laid ghats road that winds through thick forest, Orchards and coffee plantations. Rich in flora and fauna, this fertile vally is watered by the perennial Zilda waterfalls. Araku Valley is the home of many tribes whosu folklore and traditions add to the attraction of the area.

Bhimunipatnam (34 km): Bhimunipatnam, at the mounth of the Gosthani River near the Narasimha Hill, has a beautiful beach and calm water. It also has the remains of a 17th Century Dutch settlement.

Borra Caves (88 km): These limestone caves are famous for their fascinating stalactite and stalagmite formations. Here, stream suddeny disappears into a hill and emerges 91 metres below in a deep gorge. The train journey from Araku Valley to borra takes thetraveller through winding tunnels and lush green forests.

Sankaram (41 km): A place of archaeological interest, Sankaram village has many Buddhist relics, including a life-size statues of buddha.

Simhachalam (16 km): The 11th century Varaha Lakshminarasimha Temple here is in the picturesque Simhachalam hill range, 244 metres above sealevel. The famous templesque simhachalam hill range, 244 metres above sealevel. The famous temple, dedicated to the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu, is one of the richest in India. The temple, abounding in sculpture of rare excellence, is archest in India. The image of the deity here is alays covered with sandal paste and can be seen fully only during the Spring Vaisakha festival of Chandana Yatra. The journey to Simhachalam is an exhilarating experience as the road winds through valleys covered with pineapple fields and orchards.